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Connect France: helping “Team France” to win

In a fiercely competitive environment, Groupe ADP and Air France-KLM formed a groundbreaking strategic partnership in 2025. By agreeing to adopt a shared roadmap for the competitiveness, global reach, and decarbonization of the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, the two leading groups are joining forces to make the hub a global benchmark.

Joining forces in a high-risk environment

While France remains the world’s top tourist destination, its air transport sector is gradually shifting into the hands of non-European players that benefit from a more attractive regulatory and tax environment. Hubs located at Europe’s borders are thus capturing traffic that previously passed through European airports.

To ensure that France retains control over its connectivity and continues to have a powerful global hub directly connected to all major economic centers around the world, Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP have decided to join forces.

*Signing of the Connect France partnership at the 2025 Paris Air Show © Sébastien Aubry, Groupe ADP*

In June 2025, during the 55th Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, the two companies announced the launch of the Connect France initiative, a partnership for action aimed at strengthening their cooperation.

The goal is to promote the French flag carrier and establish Paris-Charles de Gaulle as a global hub.

"We have decided to combine the strengths of our two groups to make France a competitive and one-of-a-kind power in global aviation."

Philippe Pascal,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Groupe ADP

A strategic alignment to promote France

Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP are strategic assets that are essential to France’s sovereignty and appeal. With more than 870,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, their national socioeconomic impact and regional footprint are significant: 11% by value of French exports pass through Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, and Air France-KLM is the largest private employer in the Île-de-France region. The two partners have already demonstrated their ability to tackle major challenges together, particularly during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Following the example of hub-airline partnerships elsewhere in the world, Connect France aims to position itself at the very top of the industry, with the support of the French government. In addition to a shared approach to raising awareness among French and European authorities regarding the challenges facing the competitiveness of the air transport sector, Connect France aims to take concrete measures. Both groups will provide regular updates on the progress of the work carried out as part of this partnership.

870,000

Air France-KLM and Groupe ADP account for more than 870,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in France

11%

by value of French exports go through Paris-Charles de Gaulle

Acting quickly and together

Based on feedback from passengers, partners, and employees, the two partners identified concrete, immediate, and priority actions across four key areas, some of which were launched in 2025.

1: Streamlining connections

Starting in the summer of 2025, a dedicated Short Connection Pass to streamline the journey for passengers making short connections. This service is offered at check-in to passengers with a layover of less than one hour, allowing them to be prioritized at security checkpoints via a dedicated lane, based on real-time information.

2: Navigating the terminals

A comprehensive plan to rename the airport terminals, to make them easier for passengers to navigate while improving management of hub operations.
The goal is to make it easier for passengers to navigate the airport, particularly those with connecting flights, and thereby meet the highest international standards.

3: Appeal of the hub

Launch of a joint differentiating stopover program – a tourist layover lasting from a few hours to several nights – to showcase the best of the Paris-Île-de-France region.
The goal is to set ourselves apart and become the preferred choice over other major global hubs by leveraging the strengths of the Paris-Île-de-France region (leisure, culture, heritage, entertainment, fine dining, etc.)

The project aims to make Terminal 2E Hall K a flagship for France, the most beautiful terminal in the world showcasing the best of French craftsmanship, including fine dining with renowned chefs, fashion, jewelry, beauty, and cultural heritage.

4: Sustainability

Building on the work of CarbAero2, the two groups are establishing a joint initiative to support the development of the sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sector. Both groups are leaders in the field of decarbonization: Air France is one of the world’s leading customers for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and Groupe ADP has positioned itself as a facilitator of low-carbon energy supply across all of its airports.